I'd say, have them give you the money, and then if you can split the difference, go to North Tampa Photo and pick out a flash from there. Ritz is a waste of a business.

So yes, in the long run you will be MUCH better off getting the good flash to begin with. No sense in getting the off brand (which would do ok to start with, dont get me wrong), but why spend that money when you will eventually want/need to move to the legit Canon one.